November 3, 2026 — Delta Air Lines (DL) CEO Ed Bastian says the airline will fight Heathrow Airport’s decision to move Delta out of Terminal 3, where it sits alongside joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic, and into Terminal 4 from 2028.
Airline: Delta Air Lines (DL) · Country: United States
What happened
Heathrow Airport Limited published the results of its once-a-decade terminal allocation review last week. Delta is one of five airlines being moved. Virgin Atlantic stays in Terminal 3, while Delta goes to Terminal 4, which Paddle Your Own Kanoo describes as more than a mile and a half away by bus.
| Airline | New Heathrow terminal |
|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | Terminal 4 |
| Finnair | Terminal 4 |
| Japan Airlines | Terminal 4 |
| China Southern | Terminal 5 |
| LATAM | Terminal 2 |
| Virgin Atlantic | Stays in Terminal 3 |
Delta moved into Terminal 3 in 2016 to integrate with Virgin Atlantic, in which it owns a 49% stake. In a statement on Monday, November 2, Bastian said the decision undermines years of investment and the joint benefits the two airlines offer customers, and that Delta would “pursue all available remedies to correct this decision.” Virgin Atlantic says it is reviewing its legal options, and SkyTeam said the move puts its members at a competitive disadvantage. Heathrow says it has a clear plan to make the best use of current terminal capacity.
The move takes effect in 2028; an exact date is TBA. What legal route, if any, is open to Delta is unclear.
What it means for non-revs
- Nothing changes now. Delta and Virgin Atlantic stay together in Terminal 3 until the move in 2028 (date TBA).
- Tighter connections later. If the move goes ahead, anyone connecting between Delta and Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow would need an inter-terminal bus ride. Non-revs often switch between partner flights when loads are tight, so allow much more time for those connections from 2028.
- Other carriers moving: Finnair and Japan Airlines also go to Terminal 4, China Southern to Terminal 5 and LATAM to Terminal 2. Check the terminal before you list once the moves happen.
- Worth watching: A legal challenge could delay or change the plan. We will report any update.
Sources
- Paddle Your Own Kanoo — Delta Air Lines CEO Cranks Up Heat On Heathrow Airport With Threat to Take Legal Action Over Controversial Terminal Move
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